Wednesday night in Los Angeles, the 25th Annual ESPYs were handed out on live telecast on ABC celebrating the best moments in sports over the past year. The evening also came with some truly emotional, heart-tugging moments about the human spirit with those receiving special honors.

The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance went to former Buffalo Bills quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. In a touching moment, the award was presented by two other QB Hall of Famers and Jim’s longtime friends, John Elway, and Dan Marino.

Courtesy/ABC

In 2013, Kelly, who led the Bills to four straight AFC championships, received devastating news that would change his life forever when he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in his jaw. Although Kelly was told he was cancer-free that same year, the disease returned shortly thereafter. After many grueling years of chemotherapy and radiation, Kelly announced his oral cancer had returned in March 2018. As well, Kelly lost his beloved son, Hunter when the boy was only 8-years-old, but who became the longest survivor of Krabbe Leukodystrophy. Accompanied on-stage by his two daughters, Kelly broke down after seeing his late son in the segment package just before his speech. In Jim’s acceptance of the award, he ended with a key message: “Make a difference today, for someone who is fighting for their tomorrow.”

In recognition of their undisputed bravery, Jennifer Garner presented the Arthur Ashe Courage Award to the hundreds of athletes who spoke in court about the extensive abuse suffered while they were child and teenage athletes at the hands of former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University team doctor, Larry Nassar.

The group of victims, including Olympic gold medalist, Aly Raisman took to the stage after a gut-wrenching video introduction about their abuse. Three of Nassar’s victims, Raisman, Sarah Klein, and Tiffany Thomas Lopez, described what they endured, and how they were ignored by all the adults in the situation, when they reported their sexual abuse.

Courtesy/ABC

Klein, a former gymnast was the first girl abused by Nassar more than three decades ago. She expressed: “Speaking up and speaking out is not easy. Telling our stories of abuse over and over and over again, in graphic detail, is not easy. We’re sacrificing privacy and being judged and scrutinized, and it is painful, but it is time. ” When Raisman spoke she related this empowering message: “You never healed me. You took advantage of our passions and our dreams. Imagine feeling like you have no power and no voice. Well, you know what Larry, I have my power and my voice, and I will use them.” The women received a standing ovation, while tears were seen throughout close-ups of those in attendance.

And, instead of the “Coach of the Year” award going to a professional or college coach, the ESPYs instead paid tribute to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School coaches: Aaron Feis, Scott Beigel and Chris Hixon who all lost their lives in the mass shooting at the Florida high school in February. Family members and fellow coach Elliott Bonner took the stage and called for change with gun legislation, following a heart-tugging package featuring students who miss these men, and who spoke of what true heroes they were the day of the shooting; sacrificing themselves for the safety of the students.

Watch the three emotional moment below. Let us know what touched you the most via the comment section below.

Marci Miller Final DAYS Episode Airs Today As She Shares Heartfelt Goodbye: “Thanks For The Sweet Ride, Abby”

November 19, 2018

In two years time, Marci Miller became a household name in the daytime arena as one of the brightest talents to grace the soap opera genre in a very long time.

Now today on Monday November 19th, viewers of Days of our Lives are watching her final episode as she wraps up her run as Abigail Deveraux on the NBC soap opera.

And what a run it was! Earning her a Daytime Emmy nomination for Lead Actress this year, and a possible nomination next year, Miller was heralded for her gut-wrenching performances in the DID storyline (Dissociative Identity Disorder) where she played Abby’s alters, Dr. Laura and Gabby. Not to mention her complex love story with Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn).

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

On key episodes today, Miller’s Abby goes toe to toe with a vindictive Gabi (Camila Banus) who gloats how Abby ended up back in a sanitarium … thanks to her!

Miller made the decision to leave DAYS and pursue a career in feature film and primetime TV roles

In an Instagram post, Miller shared:”This is a picture of me 2 yrs ago, painting my nails (and a dear friend’s while I’m at it) for a screen test the next morning to play a woman named Abigail Deveraux Dimera on Days of Our Lives. Who would’ve thought?! This morning I sit in the same exact spot knowing that today, my last episode will air as this beloved character. I reflect, and am grateful. I am better for having been a part of it all. Knowing I’ve laid her in a pair of loving and capable hands does me good. Thanks for the sweet ride, Abby. My heart is full today. Xx #Days#Milly#Chabby”

So, send your well-wishes to Marci here as we give her a standing ovation for an incredible job well-done for her portrayal of Abby et al. Will you miss Marci? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

Intriguing casting news out of Port Charles on Sunday. The ABC daytime drama series has tapped former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Janet Hubert to play the character of Yvonne,who is said to be a love interest for Mike (Max Gail) at the nursing home he is now in.

According to EW.com, Yvonne will end up having a connection to someone or someones on the canvas.

Hubert’s first episode is slated to air on December 7th. Sitcom fans remember Janet from “Fresh Prince’ in scenes with Will Smith in the series in the role of Vivian Banks.

GH is not Janet’s first soap, either. She appeared on One Life to Live as Evangeline Williamson’s (Renee Elise Goldsberry) and Layla Williamsom’s (Tika Sumpter) mother, Lisa. The actress also appeared on All My Children as Alice Dawson.

In another twist, Hubert will reunite with Vernee Watson (Stella)om GH. The two appeared together on “Fresh Prince”, where Watson played Will’s mother.

So does this mean that Yvonne and Stella are both going to be romantically interested in Mike Corbin?

What do you think of the casting news? Interested to see this next leg of Mike’s story as he declines from Alzheimer’s, but may find love? Comment below.

Soaps Lift Boycott Threat Of Daytime Emmys

November 17, 2018

In a key move to allow those performers in front of the camera and behind the scenes crew and creatives to be acknowledged for their accomplishments this calendar year, the four daytime dramas collectively have decided to lift their threatened boycott and participate in the upcoming 46th annual Daytime Emmy competition.

This comes after the four network soaps (Days of our Lives, General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and the Restless) banded together after being unsatisfied with snafu’s coming out of the 45th annual Daytime Emmy Awards earlier this year in April, and a list of grievances and concerns they asked to be addressed by the organization that administers the Emmy contest.

Then, following an internal investigation by NATAS by the law firm of Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth of Washington, DC, the results which were released on November 8th, and being in receipt of their findings, the soaps decided to move forward while still having concerns they want addressed.

In a statement from the group, a spokesperson related to Deadline, who broke the story late Friday: “As a group, we are not in agreement with all of the conclusions that NATAS reached. However, in the spirit of working with NATAS and the TV Academy on improving the integrity of the Daytime Emmys, we have lifted our boycott. We look forward to meeting with NATAS to discuss their findings and our concerns in greater detail.”

On Saturday, someone close to the situation said to Michael Fairman TV: “Our participation doesn’t mean we accept their proposal moving forward, we still have major issues that we will be discussing with the Chair and President (of NATAS), but as a collective whole, we don’t want to penalize our actors for NATAS’ mis-management.”

The 46th Annual Daytime Emmy submissions began earlier this week on November 12th, with the Daytime Emmys slated to be handed out in early May of 2019.

So, are you glad that the network soaps have lifted their threatened boycott so that your favorite performers, whose performances you have loved over the last 11 months can be acknowledged for their talents and hard work? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.